Tere Bin…Laden

It’s official. Bollywood’s releasing a new film this weekend. But given that the Indian film industry releases the largest number of movies in the world (about a 1000 a year, according to some sources), this isn’t really news.

Except when the film in question is called Tere Bin Laden and it stars Pakistani crossover/pop star Ali Zafar. According to The News’ Instep magazine this past Sunday,

It’s a big, big, scratch that, huge deal to see a Pakistani star promoted this way in India…Indeed, if Tere Bin Laden turns into a box office smash, Ali Zafar will reach a level of stardom hitherto unprecedented in our industry and he will also become a one of a kind phenomenon in Bollywood…After all, which actor does Bollywood have who can act, dance and sing his own songs? The answer is none. Ali Zafar is a rare breed.

Seriously, though, the film is garnering major buzz (and tweets), and is described as “a tongue-in-cheek comedy about an ambitious young news reporter from Pakistan who is desperate to migrate to the U.S. in pursuit of the American dream.” When the journalist comes across an Osama bin Laden look alike, he decides produce a fake Osama video “and sell it to news channels,” leading to serious ramifications.

Director Abishek Sharma told Reuters, “The film looks to give a fresh perspective to the repercussions of 9/11 that a lot of people are facing but…through humor.” Zafar, in his interview with Instep writer Muniba Kamal, noted, “I knew that I didn’t want to do a typical Bollywood film with romancing a girl around trees. I didn’t want to play second lead in any film and when I was offered the script, I read it and I could see myself doing it. It’s very funny. I think I suit the role.”

Comedy or not, producers are opting to shorten the film title to Tere Binwhen it’s released in Pakistan, “so as not to draw the ire of militant Pakistani Islamists,” noted the Wall Street Journal.

Me thinks said militant Pakistani Islamists may be “ired” anyway, seeing as how they probably watch television and know the real name is actually Tere bin Laden. But I digress.

What is great about a film like Tere Bin (Laden) is that it doesn’t really have to stretch the truth to be funny or satirical. Because these days, you just can’t make up some of the stuff in the news. For example:

Back in January, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released fresh images of Osama bin Laden, using “digital enhancement” technology to show what the Al Qaeda leader would look like today. What kind of “technology” you ask? Google. Turns out the FBI updated the bin Laden photo using the grey hair, jaw line and forehead of Spanish politician Gaspar Llamazares. Not so intelligent.

According to Chinese news agency, People’s Daily Online, the Afghan Taliban is “training monkeys to use weapons to attack American troops.” No, really. Monkeys are apparently being armed with “AK-47 rifles and Bren light machine guns in the Waziristan tribal region near the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.” And this isn’t the first time! According to the news agency, the CIA also “trained massive “monkey soldiers” in the Vietnam War and dispatched armed monkeys to dangerous jungles to launch assaults on Vietnamese soldiers. Today, the Taliban forces have given the American troops some of their own medicine.” Wow.

Bow down to Monkey Soldier, Yankee!

So yes. Excited for Tere bin Laden and Zafar’s Bollywood debut. But also secretly hoping for a sequel that uses the aforementioned details we call news. Because monkey soldiers, Gary Faulkner, and Spanish MPs-turned-doctored-bin Laden-images are a hilarious combination that you just can’t make up. I think Paul the Octopus may even predict a smash hit!

“..Indian film industry releases the largest number of movies in the world (about a 1000 a year..”

You are wrong. Indian-Hindi Film Industry releases 1000 Films probably. There are 18 official Languages in India and each of the Languages have their own Movie Industry!

I come from Bangalore and Kannada Language Films are really popular here. Next door its the Malayalam(Kerala), Marathi(Maharastra), Telugu and the most successful Film Industry(better than Hindi)- Tamil Film Industry.

So in South India alone there are 5 Movie Industries. But, I understand that Pakistanis are only familiar with Hindi ones.

Did you know Ghajini was made in Tamil before being ‘xeroxed’ in Hindi? You should catch it.. Surya,doing Aamir’s role is better than Aamir!

Did you know Bhul Bhullayya was made in Malayalam before in Hindi?

Such is the richness of India, such is the vibrancy that several Movie Industries can co-exist and feed off each other’s ideas and be successful and appealing to the masses at the same time in whose neighbouring countries struggle to keep afloat even 1 Movie Industry.

FYI, there are several other successful Movie Industries- Bhojpuri, Bengali(Highly Influential in Bangladesh like Hindi Movies in Pakistan). Tamil Film Industry has tremendous following in Sri Lanka.

So coming back to the Original point there are more than 5000 to 10000 Films releasing every year in India alone.
I dont think any one country can surpass that.

Hi Anoop-you’re right. I have a close South Indian friend and had never even heard of Tamil till I met her in college! We watched a few South Indian movies over the years. My favorite is “Roja”-the story was great and the songs were wonderful. She also told me that Hindi films often copy Tamil ones and others.

Roja is a classic. Catch all Mani Ratnam movies. Have you seen any Rajinikanth movies? They are pure fun and arguably the biggest movie star in the world! (People worship him in Tamil Nadu, literally before the 1st show of his movies) Catch Padiyappa, Basha, etc.. Pure fun..

But I cannot help but wonder why must you mention that the country next door cannot keep even one movie industry afloat? I mean, so what? We have a music industry that India cannot match and we are one-third your size, we created reverse swing and t20 cricket. Sorry to be politicising the debate but seriously man. Why must you boast :s The facts speak for themselves. And just so you know, I am a major Mani Ratnam fan.

I dont want to make it look like a dual but since debate on Cultural and artistic matters should happen I’ll go ahead(for better understanding of the other) and comment on your post.

“We have a music industry that India cannot match and we are one-third your size, we created reverse swing and t20 cricket. ”

Again, you are comparing Hindi Music Industry and Music Talent. Only a handful of states speak Hindi in Central India. Given this fact you might want to rethink your comment there. Pakistanis have no idea of other Music Industries in India. For instance, A.R. Rahman is an Indian first but he rose to fame because of his work in Tamil in Roja(A wonderful movie and even better score as someone pointed out above). You can see the genius of the man by realizing he probably has made music in more languages than anyone else ever. Is there anyone who has the depth of the Oscar Winner from Pakistan?(FYI, he is a convert from Hinduism to Islam. I wonder if converts in India’s certain neighbours can achieve such fame. If the majority community lets them live first)

I understand there is a pop culture in Pakistan. Good for you. I also understand it derives its inspiration from the Sufi Music. Thats very nice to hear. But, what else other than Sufi influence can Pakistan showcase in Music listened to by the masses? I can tell you from the top of my head several different kinds of popular Music happening in India, which includes Sufi-influenced Music.

Mr Anoop whatever you have said or told about the Indian move industries and other things might me correct but let me clear on thing here that for sure there is no comparison of Pakistani pop industry with Indian pop industry, this is the one artistic field in which Pakistan has excelled more then India and it shows the talent in Pakistan of pop music.

From Rushdi’s pop hits to songs sung by the Hassan siblings, to bands including Junoon, Vital Signs and Strings, the Pakistani pop industry has steadily spread throughout South Asia and today is the most popular genre in Pakistan and the neighbouring South Asian countries.Songs sung by Pakistani pop artists are a regular feature on soundtracks of most of the Bollywood movies.

If you have time you can watch coke studio series on you tube for a reference in regards to the work going on in this industry in Pakistan, yes I accept the facts about your film industry which also covers the film music industry but when it comes to the pop music such as pop bands and singers Pakistan is good.

We can only compare hindi music as it is related to urdu and for all other languages good for you that you have music in that but I assume only the people from those states who speak that language will be intrusted in that and I think all of India can understand Hindi but not your regional languages. as bollywood movies are released all over india and all of them are hindi.

AR rehman got the oscar award becuase he did hollywood movie, I will be surprised if any of his bollywood work will be picked for oscars.

Alot of players have been caught for ball tempering and I am not surprised that you only pointed out afridi. this is the nature of mankind if we can not do the same thin well compared to other people, we will always have some excuses to take the credit away from others.

By saying that Pakistan discovered reverse swing does not mean that we have invented any thing in physics, it is only that we applied the physics through our brain in to the game.

“We can only compare hindi music as it is related to urdu and for all other languages good for you that you have music in that but I assume only the people from those states who speak that language will be intrusted in that and I think all of India can understand Hindi but not your regional languages. as bollywood movies are released all over india and all of them are hindi.”

No buddy, Hindi is the largest spoken Language in India with many,many different dialects. But, its not that dominant as is Urdu is in Pakistan. There is no “national” language in India as per the Indian Constitution as this would lead to animosity between Hindi-speakers and non-Hindi speakers like its happening with Urdu in Pakistan. Bollywood is big on revenue but the biggest Industry in India is Tamil in the South. All live in peace with each other’s success and often share talent.

“AR rehman got the oscar award becuase he did hollywood movie, I will be surprised if any of his bollywood work will be picked for oscars.”

True. But, Oscar is for English Language Movies ONLY! Other language films are put in Foreign Language Films category like Lagaan was.

A.R.Rahman by his musical standards should have won many awards by now. Scores of Roja, Lagaan,Bombay, the list goes on and on, deserve the Oscar too. Slumdog Millionaire was one of his average scores.

Pop Culture is strong in Paksitan, good for it. But, that space is taken by Hindi Cinema in India for Hindi Speaking audiences. There is an amalgamation of bands in India on various languages. And, lets us not even talk about the 5000 year old Carnatic and Hindustani Classical Music. Pandit Ravishankar has won numerous Grammys.

Many of the Musical Instruments invented in India is being used in Pakistan still. The rich Musical Heritage in India is unparalleled in the world.

I’ve observed something. Stand in any point in India and move 200 Kms in any direction, you will find that place has a different weather, its people speak a different language or a dialect of the same language,in some cases the people look different, the music flavour is different, food style and tastes differ, you will find yourself in a completely new world,yet you can tell its India.

Ha, yeah, the trailers have been funny. This is actually a movie that I want to see. I haven’t stepped in to a cinema hall in a while now. Why go to all the pains when I can watch the movies in the comfort of my HT, I say!

I think they should just have let it be Tere Bin Laden especially since it’s common knowledge now what the name of the movie is. Plus, I heard some rumours about the movie being banned in Pakistan. Hope not. Really, really looking forward to it :(

“Our full board have watched the movie and the majority has decided it’s not suitable for exhibition,” Masood Elahi, vice chairman of the Censor Board of Pakistan (CBP), told Reuters before the ban was imposed. He gave no reasons for the ban.

I support this. India should open her arms to all kinds of artists and people with exceptional talent in the sciences from Pakistan. India should give them permanent residences. A good gene pool is necessary for growth and excellence.

Long time since i visited your blog leave alone comment on it. Saw this flick just yesterday and it is an awesome comedy. A surprise package. Though i must say its shabbily made, seems like made in haste, but it does offer all a good time. Especially Punjabi’s (being one I could easily relate to the dialogues and punchlines). Its a fun movie.

Ali Zafar is found wanting in Acting. Pradhuman also is wanting, but managed well within his limitations. The Most funny part was the shady outlet for Visa to “Amreeka”. Its punchline is is Invading Amreeka since Blah Blah Blah…. Awesome. Witty and good comical timing.

Honestly I think it was just a movie and was made with good intention. Banning the movie because it would hurt emotions of people is a stupid move. How about we think about this as: banning the movie hurt a lot of rational, tolerant and tolerant people who just wanted to have a good laugh watching the movie and appreciate the creative efforts of the team.

Anoop
Why do we have to compare everything and try to do a ‘one upmanship’ even in something that is as boundary defying and non competitive as music and movies?? If you were talking cricket, I understand the passion and how it provides endless fun with the bickering and all. But why not just enjoy the best of everything that is on offer in both countries in terms of music/performing arts talent?

In fact it is all the more creditable that Pakistan has the sort of music scene it has, considering that the largely conservative country even does not permit music in the strict interpretation of religion!

I hv not watched the movie, look forward to it. Sad that Pakistan banned it.